High school hockey: St. Paul outdoor Winter Classic 'was worth it'

St. Paul's Max Paitich puts the finishing touches on the ice by scraping snow Saturday before the start of the St. Paul Winter Classic at the North Dale Recreation Center in St. Paul. (Pioneer Press: Tim Leighton)

Three inches of soft, fresh snow greeted St. Paul residents Saturday morning, nature's way of adding accent to trees and blanketing sidewalks and driveways.

Add hockey rinks, too.

The snow caused a commotion at the North Dale Recreation Center in St. Paul's Como Park neighborhood, which was hosting the daylong St. Paul Winter Classic featuring three high school girls hockey games.

"We got here plenty early to prepare the ice," said Ryan Paitich, co-coach of the St. Paul Blades girls team and one of the key organizers of the event. "We had to use a snow blower, shovels and old-fashioned muscle. The tough part was getting all of that snow over the boards. It was worth it, though."

Six teams from the Tri-Metro Conference played in the fifth annual event formerly called Como Park Hockey Day.

"I'd rather have the snowfall than rain, like we had four years ago," event organizer Erik Jorgensen said. "It's snow, and that's just great. One of the things we are trying to do is really bring hockey awareness to the city."

Connor Comiskey, 21, of St. Paul sat on a metal folding chair on the north end of the rink and was in charge of running the small game clock.

"I want to do what I can to help," he said. "I played at Como Park and want to give back. Hockey is dying in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and I am here to help out in any way that I can. This isn't bad at all. This is fun."

St. Paul United played Minnehaha United in the first game and recorded a 2-1 victory. St. Paul United, a co-op of St. Paul Academy and Visitation, got two second-period goals from Princeton recruit Alev Baysoy. Freshman forward Joie Phelps assisted on both.

Minnehaha United is a co-op of Minnehaha Academy, St. Croix Lutheran, DeLaSalle, St. Agnes and Providence Academy.

Fans stood on tall snowbanks to watch the games while two nearby fire pits warmed those who needed thawing. St.

St. Paul United and Minnehaha United play. (Pioneer Press: Tim Leighton)

Paul Academy assistant activities director Mike Brown operated the penalty box door for offenders and told them when their penalty would expire. Players were on the honor system for returning to the ice.

Blue lines and the center red line were painted on the rink by city of St. Paul workers. In past events, Paitich said, lines were not painted on the rink.

Chuckles and grumbling were present between the first and second period of Game 1. The start of the second period was delayed while snow was cleared and the ice was manicured.

"This is why we have indoor rinks," Minnehaha United assistant coach Craig Teiken said. "I hope the delay doesn't hurt us. We are excited to get back out there. Last year, it was 5 below with a 30 mph wind when we played here. We played to a 0-0 tie in overtime. How's that for fun? It was fun for the kids but tough on the rest of us."

Paitch said the between-periods resurfacing problem was because the Zamboni, rented for $800 from Somerset, Wis., wasn't powerful enough.

"You watch, the next period, the ice is going to be beautiful," he said.

The sheen was bright.

"It was a wonderful day for the kids, and the ice was fine," St. Paul United coach David Cole said. "This was epic. These kids will remember this experience for the rest of their lives, and so will the coaches. We are thrilled to have been included."

Baysoy said she had played outdoor games twice previously.

"For most of the team, this was the first time outdoors playing," she said. "While weather is a factor, you can't use it as an excuse. We started out a little shaky but found our stride."